AJ, I don't agree with you. Sant Holmes had a couple of blunts, less than a quarter ounce of pot, if my understanding is correct. Let's wait to hear what a "sizeable amount" constitutes before we get all cynical.

Difference between being a starter and SB MVP vs. the #4 RB at the deepest position on the team.

Still, no one's going to convince me otherwise that star players don't generally get more of the bene of the doubt than backups or reserves when it comes to their run-ins with the law. If the roles were reversed and Russell was the one that got busted for a drunk & disorderly, then a domestic, then a misdemeanor possession charge, I have a hard time believing that he'd still be on the team. Being a UDFA, the team has very little invested in him. A R1 pick is a different story.

I'd also be very surprised if this "sizeable amount" is anything near what others have jokingly suggested. If that were the case, he'da got insta-busted for possession/possession with intent to distribute or something to that effect. From the blurb I read at Scouts, he didn't even get arrested which may explain why a team (granted, it is Cincy) inked him so quickly to a deal. All Bengal jokes aside, I'm bettin' that they didn't know about this incident.

If I were going to bet on one guy I think we'll take Sunday, it'd be Frank Summers. As short yardage back, he can replace Smoke Russell. As FB, he can replace Carey Davis. That's easy math, two for one.

The smoke just hastened Gary's departure. He gets a better chance at being up the ladder elsewhere, as he wasn't leapfrogging Meldy, Shard, and Faswilly. Not to mention, he has a SB highlight moment, a ring.

AJ may be right that stars get leniency, fringe guys get shown the door. You know what? That's life, dude. Even with a noble and magnanimous organization such as the Ambassador's. Think of it this way: if you're on the bottom of the 52, you have less margin of error, more impetus to work 110%. Think James Harrison, once he wised up. Or a guy like Larry Foote, who was JAG his first couple of years. You have to work your way, be the first guy in and the last guy out. Not the guy who is opening the door and letting out the pungent ambiance when the pizza dude shows up for delivery. Easy contrition for Holmes, less so for... well, would we blink if Arnold Harrison got cut likewise? A guy fourth at his spot? Dallas Baker?